In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Dugoua discuss Vitamin E. They review good sources for this fat soluble vitamin, and why it's important for our bodies. Running time 5:04

In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Duguoa discuss the importance of Vitamin B12. They look at what Vitamin B12 does in the body, and different diseases that benefit from the treatment of B12. Running Time: 7:27

In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Duguoa discuss the importance of Vitamin C. They look at how Vitamin C is used in the body, Dr. JJ's recommended doses, good food sources of Vitamin C and signs of Vitamin C deficiency. Running time: 6:57

In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Dugoua explore Probiotics. They review what probiotics are, why your body needs them, and how you can ensure you have a good balance of probiotics in your intestinal flora. Running time: 8:25

In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Duguoa discuss Omega 3s what they are, what they do in our bodies, how much to take and how to know if we are deficient. Running Time 9:14

In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Dugoua discuss what to look for to help you choose a good multivitamin. The examine the best form to choose (liquid, capsule or tablet), and the key things that your Multi-Vitamin should have. Running time 8:38

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, naturopath Dr. JJ and Holistic Nutritionist Rosalie Moscoe look at 5 easy steps for you to reduce your stress. They examine some causes of stress, how stress can impact your health and of course some great tips for coping with stress. Running time: 12:02

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and Dr. JJ explore how you can improve your love life naturally. They examine What is libido, what impacts your libido and some vitamins and therapies that can help stimulate a healthy libido. Running time 7:21

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, Dr. JJ and Horticultural Therapy Co-ordinator Nancy Lee Colibaba look at the health benefits of having plants in your home. They look at which plants are the best for purifying the air, and the easiest to take care of. Running time: 8:14

Are you a sugar addict? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, Dr. JJ and holistic nutritionist Rosalie Moscoe talk about sugar addiction. What is a sugar addiction, some health issues associated with it, and how to break the sugar habit. Running time 10:25

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua examine Insomnia. They look at typical causes of sleeplessness and some great tips on how to get to sleep naturally. Running time: 8:42

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ explore the causes of fevers. They review what a fever is and how to treat fevers for all ages, babies, toddlers, children and adults. Running time: 7:49

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and Dr. JJ explore the causes of neck pain, how to prevent it and how to treat it. Special guest, Laura Disenhouse Physiotherapist and Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, demonstrates some osteopathic techniques to relieve neck tension. Running time 7:53

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and Dr. JJ explore natural ways to get rid of cellulite. Dr. JJ explains what is cellulite, effective cellulite treatments and the healthy lifestyle to adapt to keep it at bay. Running time: 12:48

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and Dr. JJ explore healthy weight loss tips to help you lose fat and achieve your best weight. Dr. JJ shares the top natural weight loss products he recommends to his patients and the importance of developing healthy eating habits and an exercise routine to be successful. Running time: 9:22

Have you ever wondered whether you should put Ice or Heat on an injury? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall, naturopath Dr. JJ and chiropractor Dr. Schlachta examine the best ways to treat injuries, specifically muscle sprains and strains. Running time 9:44

Here's to number 2's. In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua look at constipation. What is constipation, what causes constipation and how to relieve it naturally. Learn the secrets to regular bowel movements! Running time: 6:37

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Dugoua examine the difference between a cold and flu and share tips on how to prevent colds and the flu. If you get one, Dr. JJ shares what he takes to shorten the duration of colds. Running time: 9:56

Have you ever eaten too much over the holidays and then regretted it? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and Dr. JJ share 4 tips for eating healthy over the holidays. We'll help you avoid the guilt and discomfort of overeating. (Running time: 6:50)

Are you regular? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ explore what is good digestive health, what happens in your body when you eat food, what are some diseases of the digestive tract and tips to help promote good digestion. Running time: 9:03

Are you preparing for a big race? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua reveals his protocol for preparing for the 215km Ride to Conquor Cancer. He also shares tips on how to help your body recover after the race. (Running time: 7:23)

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and Naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua look at how the small things we do can make a big difference in the world. They look at the launch of Me to We Music and Dr. JJ shares his experience participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Running time: 4:58

Knowing which supplements to take can be overwhelming. In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua review what are supplements, what are the best ones to take and how to choose the right supplements. Running time: 5:33

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua review some great natural strategies to alleviate your seasonal allergy symptoms. They look at what are allergies, typical allergy symptoms, and how you can tell the difference between allergies and a cold. Running time: 4:07

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on a raw food diet? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, naturopath, Dr. JJ Dugoua interviews his co-host, Jennifer Lyall, as Jennifer shares her raw food experience. (Running Time: 7:51)

In this week's episode, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ give you a basic overview of Vitamins and Minerals. They examine what they are, why you need them and how to know what vitamins and minerals you should take. Running time: 5:45

What does it mean to go on a raw food diet? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. Jean Jacques Dugoua interview raw food chef and blogger, Robin Gregory. Robin answers all of the basic questions about going raw, including why, how and what equipment you need to do it. Running time: 11:02

Have you ever wondered what would happen at an appointment with an osteopathic practitioner? In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ are joined by osteopathic manual practitioner, Laura Disenhaus. Laura demonstrates an initial assessment with Jennifer. The assessment focuses on Jennifer's jaw, particularly her TMJ issues. Running time: 9:03

In this episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua interview osteopathic manual practitioner and physio therapist. In this discussion they focus on lower back pain, examining some common causes of the pain you should avoid and different natural approaches to eliminating lower back pain. Running Time: 7:13

In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua give an overview of Botanical Medicine. They define botanical medicine, look at particular ailments it works well with and discuss how to find botanical medicine. Running time: 8:05

IV Therpay is a powerful tool that naturopaths use to get important nutrients directly into a patient's body. In this week's episode of Vitamin Junkeys, Jennifer Lyall and naturopath, Dr. JJ Duguoa review IV Therapy, the type of people who typically use IV Therapy, and demonstrate a form of this therapy. Running time: 8:25

In this week's episode, naturopath, Dr. JJ Dugoua and Jennifer Lyall talk about lactation and breast feeding. They look at how long women typically breast feed, the benefits of breast feeding, natural ways to stimulate breast milk production, foods to include in your diet while breast feeding, ones to avoid. The show closes with some great natural resources for pregnant/nursing women. Running time: 7:33

Do you have stubborn fat that you just can seem to get rid of? Jennifer Lyall and naturopath Dr. JJ Dugoua look at mesotherapy as an approach to burn stubborn fat. This episode includes a demonstration of mesotherapy. Running time: 8:37

Dr. JJ and Jennifer Lyall explore Naturopathic Medicine. This includes the "tools" that naturopathic doctors use to treat their patients like botanical medicine, hydro therapy, homeopathy and acupuncture; and what to expect at your first visit. (running time 15:17)

Detoxifying your body is becoming more and more popular. Learn what detoxification is, when you should do a detox, who should do a detox and how. Detoxification methods range from simple elimination diets to acupuncture.

(Pilot) In this episode, Jennifer and Dr. JJ examine acupuncture. They Dr. JJ answers many of the common questions including, what is acupuncture, who can practice it and does it hurt? Dr. JJ demonstrates an acupuncture technique on Jennifer.

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Today, we’re going to be looking at vitamin D, some good food sources, some other good sources, and why we need this in our body. And that’s what JJ’s taking today.

This is a little tiny tablet of vitamin D. It’s about 1000 International Units of vitamin D. You could also get vitamin D in droppers, which is kind of neat. They’ve got these new droppers now that each drop is the equivalent of one of these little capsules. It’s this big and that will last you -- god I don’t know -- about 9 months.

It's recommended that breastfed babies supplement with vitamin D too.

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. So, basically it usually comes from a fat source. And it’s a great vitamin. It’s almost one of the super vitamins. It seems like every month or so we hear one new application for vitamin D. Dr. JJ's favorite therapeutic indication for vitamin D is that it prevents all forms of mortality. So when people take vitamin D they’re less likely to die. So never mind disease, the fact that you’re less likely to die is a good incentive.

Also it’s been shown to decrease the incidence of a whole bunch of cancers, it is useful for depression, seasonal affective disorder, osteoporosis. I think most women know now the importance of vitamin D and calcium for osteoporosis. Vitamin D can help with heart disease, a number of mental conditions, arthritis the list goes on.

How does Vitamin D do this? What does Vitamin D do in our bodies exactly?

Well, in some way for bones it has a hormonal effect. It’s involved in a number of physiological processes in the body and about every chemical process in the body where it’s just the key to that environment.

It helps everything else?

Everybody should almost be on vitamin D.

So how much vitamin D should we take each day?

If you’re generally a healthy person, if you get a lot of sunlight exposure then I would say about 1000 International Units (IUs) a day. I think just to be on the preventive side. In the winter time where you get less sun exposure and particularly if you find your mood dips, get the winter blues, I would go up to about 2000 IUs a day.

What happens if you don’t get enough vitamin D?

Well, in the case of seasonal affective disorder, you may end up with winter blues. You may have difficulties absorbing calcium. Also you’d be losing a lot of the preventive benefits of vitamin D.

How do get it Vitamin D?

Sunshine, great source definitely one of the top sources. Food sources include Dairy and Fish

You’ve got dairy, so some cheese, some milk. Also a lot of foods are fortified with vitamin D. Also multivitamins will contain some vitamin D. But really in the doses we’re talking about, you’re looking at about, you know, taking vitamin D on its own.

Fatty fish is another good source. For example, cod liver oil tends to be high in vitamin D. Halibut and other cold water fish tend to be higher in vitamin D. Swordfish is another example, but you have to be careful with swordfish because it’s high in mercury so I’d avoid that one. But really cod liver and Halibut are very good sources of dietary vitamin D.

And there’s also lights too aren’t there that you could get Vitamin D?

Yes there are S.A.D. lamps. to treat seasonal affective disorder. You could get a light box that you just pretty much put on your desk or you put on your table and you just stand in front of it and you get a dose of full spectrum light. So, it’s back to the whole sunlight issue. And also you could get them in light bulbs. So, you just screw them into any light fixture and then away you go.

And what about tanning beds then? If you go to a tanning bed would you be getting Vitamin D? I guess it depends on the machine?

Yeah. It would depend on the machine. If you could get a little bit of a therapeutic effect but I think it will definitely be a lot stronger with the S.A.D. lamp. Really when you have seasonal affective disorder and you’re focusing on getting vitamin D into your body, you want this to be done daily.

Does sunscreen affect then the absorption of vitamin D?

It does interfere with the absorption of vitamin D, but if you don’t wear sunscreen and you’re not careful in the sun then you’ll end up with a burn. And when you get the burn you predispose yourself to skin cancer. You have to kind of use your common sense and be careful when you’re dealing with the sun.

Dr. JJ's told us what vitamin D is. Why it’s good for us, lots of reasons why it’s good for us and how we can get it through our diet. That’s fantastic.

So if somebody needed though to be diagnosed as to whether or not they might be a little bit low in vitamin D, they should check in with their doctor or healthcare practitioner?

Yes, there’s also a blood test you could do too now which is great. And you get it almost as a routine test. You could do it here in Ontario.

If you would like to find an alternative healthcare practitioner to help you address a health issue, you can find a naturopath, holistic nutritionist and other practitioners in your community through the Find a Practitioner link on our website www.vitaminjunkeys.com

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